Gaillardia plant named ‘Baltorflam’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Gaillardia  plant named ‘Baltorflam’, characterized by its red/yellow-bicolor ray florets, and vigorous, upright, and mounded growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Gaillardia pulchella.

Variety denomination: ‘Baltorflam’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Gaillardia plant botanically known as Gaillardia pulchella and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Baltorflam’.

The new cultivar orginated as the product of the open-pollination, in November 1999, of the proprietary breeding selection designated ‘NCT-137-1’ (not patented) with a mix of pollen from plants grown from Thompson & Morgan double Gaillardia mix (not patented). The new Gaillardia was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during October 2000 at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings taken since November 1999 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type, with all the characteristics as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It was repeatedly found that the cultivar of the present invention:

-   -   1. Forms red/yellow-bicolor ray and florets, and     -   2. Exhibits a vigorous, upright, and mounded plant habit.

‘Baltorflam’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without, however, any variation in genotype.

‘Baltorflam’ is distinguished from its female parent primarily in inflorescence color.

Of the Gaillardia cultivars known to the inventor the most similar to ‘Baltorflam’ is ‘Sundance’ (not patented). However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Sundance’ primarily in inflorescence color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical inflorescence and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. The plants were grown for 12 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Baltorflam’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a single, partially opened inflorescence of ‘Baltorflam’.

FIG. 3 illustrates a fully opened inflorescence of ‘Baltorflam’.

FIG. 4 illustrates a close-up view of a single ray floret and leaf of ‘Baltorflam’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England 1995 edition, except where general terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on May 21, 2003 in West Chicago, Ill. The readings were taken between 10:00 and 11:45 a.m. under natural daylight conditions. The plants were produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and were grown in a double polycarbonate-covered greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots while utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 65°-75° F. (18°-24° C.) during the day and approximately 60° 65° F. (15°-18° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 5,000-8,000 footcandles were maintained during the day. Plants were pinched at three weeks after planting. The following measurements and descriptions were taken at 12 weeks after planting of rooted cuttings.

-   Botanical classification: Gaillardia pulchella cultivar     ‘Baltorflam’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Gaillardia pulchella selection             designated ‘NCT-137-1’ (not patented).         -   Male parent.—Mix of pollen from plants grown from Thompson &             Morgan double Gaillardia mix (not patented). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 5 to 8 days.         -   Time to develop roots.—Approximately 21 to 28 days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous and well branched. -   Plant description:     -   -   General appearance and form.—Upright, mounded, and vigorous.         -   Crop time.—Approximately 6-7 weeks from planting of rooted             cuttings.         -   Height from soil level to top of blooms.—Approximately 35.2             cm.         -   Diameter (area of spread).—Approximately 36.7 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching.         -   Branch description.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 3.             Length: Approximately 25.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4 mm.             Color: 146B. Texture: Smooth. Internode length:             Approximately 2 cm.         -   Foliage.—Type: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite. Quantity per             branch: Approximately 13. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Texture             of upper and lower surface: Densely pubescent. Color of             mature foliage: Upper surface: 137A with venation of 145C.             Lower surface: Closest to 191A with venation of 145C. Upper             leaves: Shape: Oblanceolate. Margin: Entire. Base: Sessile.             Length: Approximately 4.2 cm. Width: Approximately 8 mm.             Lower leaves: Shape: Spatulate. Margin: Pinnately lobed.             Base: Sessile. Length: Approximately 4.6 cm. Width:             Approximately 1.7 cm. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Outdoor flowering habit.—‘Baltorflam’ is freely flowering             under outdoor growing conditions with substantially             continuous blooming from spring through fall. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Type/appearance.—Solitary, composite, persistent. Disc and             ray florets develop acropetally on a capitulum. Shape:             Hemispherical.         -   Fragrance.—Faint, sweet.         -   Quantity per plant.—3 open inflorescences and 22 buds at any             one time.         -   Size.—Diameter: Approximately 5.3 cm. Depth/height:             Approximately 3.7 cm.         -   Receptical.—Shape: Hemispherical. Diameter: Approximately             2.4 cm. Depth/height: 5 mm.         -   Bud.—Shape: Oblate. Before first color: Diameter:             Approximately 7.4 mm. Depth/height: Approximately 1.5 cm.             Color: 151B. At first color: Diameter: Approximately 9.4 mm.             Color: 13C. Depth/height: Approximately 2.3 cm. Color: 13C.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity: Approximately 107 per inflorescence.             Shape: Funnelform with 4 free lobes. Corolla diameter:             1.3 cm. Lobe length from tube: Approximately 6 mm. Lobe             width: Approximately 3 mm. Lobe apex: Pointed to slightly             rounded. Lobe margin: Entire. Lobe texture: Glabrous. Color             of mature lobe: Upper surface: 13A with venation of N144A.             Lower surface: 13C with venation of N144A. Corolla tube:             Length: 1.2 cm. Diameter at apex: 4 mm. Diameter at base:             0.7 mm. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: Fully opened,             outer surface: 13B at tube opening, 184A in center portion             of tube length, 145C at base. Inner surface: 184A, 184A             suffuses to base of lobes.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity: Approximately 100. Shape:             Funnelform. Lobe shape: Linear. Lobe apex: Long, acuminate.             Length: 7 mm. Diameter: 3 mm. Texture of corolla tube: Outer             surface: Densely pubescent. Inner surface: Glabrous. Color             of apex: 183B. Color of base: Colorless, transparent.         -   Peduncle.—Strong, erect. Length: Approximately 16.7 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 1.3 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent.             Color: 144A.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity: Approximately 30. Shape: Lanceolate.             Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Length: 9 mm.             Width at base: 2 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color of             upper and lower surfaces: 138A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium — On disc florets only.             Stamen number: 4. Anther shape: Linear. Anther length:             Approximately 3 mm. Anther width: Approximately 0.08 mm.             Anther color: 187A. Filament length: Approximately 5 mm.             Filament color: 76D. Amount of pollen: Abundant. Pollen             color: 8A. Gynoecium — On disc and ray florets. Pistil             length: Approximately 7 mm. Stigma shape: Narrow lanceolate,             densely pubescent. Stigma length: Approximately 3 mm. Stigma             color: 187A. Style length: 3.5 mm. Style color: 187D. Ovary             length: 0.5 mm. Ovary color: 144D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens or pests common     to Gaillardia has not been observed. -   Hardiness zone: ‘Baltorflam’ is hardy in zones nine (9) and above. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Gaillardia plant named ‘Baltorflam’ substantially, as herein shown and described, which:
 1. Forms red/yellow-bicolor ray florets, and
 2. Exhibits a vigorous, upright and mounded growth habit. 